Pressure-Reduced Boiling Cooling System Using Low-GWP HFO Refrigerants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration technologies face challenges with fluorine-based refrigerants that have high global warming potential (GWP) and flammability, and boiling cooling devices are limited in cooling temperature range, making it difficult to achieve high refrigeration capacity at low or ultra-low temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system that utilizes a refrigerant with a low GWP and non-flammability, such as HFO-1336mzz-Z, by reducing pressure to cool the refrigerant and releasing heat under atmospheric pressure, allowing for a thermal cycle that expands the range of usable substances as refrigerants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fluorine-based refrigerants are used in vapor compression type refrigeration devices, then highly-efficient operation is achieved, but global warming potential increases and flammability risks occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the refrigerant from fluorine-based to HFO-based refrigerant, which has lower GWP and reduced flammability while maintaining acceptable cooling performance. This parameter substitution resolves the contradiction between cooling efficiency and environmental safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition (vaporization) of HFO refrigerant in the evaporator to achieve cooling, similar to conventional systems but with a safer refrigerant. The phase change process absorbs heat effectively while using an environmentally friendly substance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If HFO refrigerants with low GWP are used, then environmental impact is reduced, but flammability and toxicity safety issues remain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite refrigerant formulations, specifically HFO-1234ze(E) blended with HFO-1225ye(E) or HFO-1234yf, to achieve both low GWP and improved safety characteristics. The composite approach allows optimization of multiple properties including flammability and toxicity while maintaining environmental benefits.
3Productivity
If vapor compression type refrigeration devices are used, then cooling performance is achieved, but lubricating oil flows out to the refrigerant side causing compressor instability and evaporator efficiency loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical compression system with a boiling cooling device that uses thermal energy conversion. This substitution eliminates the compressor and lubricating oil system entirely, resolving the oil contamination issue while maintaining cooling functionality through phase change of the refrigerant.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If boiling cooling devices are used, then environmental performance is improved and lubricating oil issues are eliminated, but cooling temperature range is limited and low temperature refrigeration capacity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermodynamic parameters of the system by using HFO refrigerants with specific boiling points and thermal properties that enable extended temperature range operation. The modified refrigerant parameters allow the boiling cooling device to achieve low temperature refrigeration capacity while maintaining environmental benefits.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables efficient cooling to low temperatures using HFO solvents, ensuring low environmental impact, high safety, and high refrigeration capacity, overcoming limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure reducing device that is connected to the outflow port and adjusts a pressure in the container to be lower than an atmospheric pressure by sucking gas from the container through the outflow port
Implementation Method 2
the refrigerant flowing out from the expansion valve exchanges heat with a temperature control target in an evaporator. The refrigerant absorbs heat from the temperature control target in the evaporator to cool it
Implementation Method 3
a refrigerant is compressed by a compressor and the refrigerant flowing out from the compressor is cooled by a condenser
Data Source
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AI summary
A cooling system according to an embodiment includes: a sealed container 10 that includes a first outflow port 11 and an inflow port 13 and stores a refrigerant in liquid form; a pressure reducing device 20 that is connected to the first outflow port 11 and adjusts a pressure in the sealed container 10 to be lower than an atmospheric pressure by sucking gas from the sealed container 10 through the first outflow port 11; and a refrigerant circulation device 30 that includes a refrigerant flow path 31 to be connected to the pressure reducing device 20 and the inflow port 13 and causes a refrigerant in liquid form liquefied from the gas sucked from the sealed container 10 by the pressure reducing device 20 to flow into the sealed container 10 through the inflow port 13.